A divission Bench of the Bombay High Court on Monday asked the state government to take steps towards upgrade of video conferencing facilities to reduce the cost incurred towards escorting prisoners to trial courts.

Chief Justice Mohit Shah and Justice Ranjana Desai said this in response to a petition filed a prisoner Sheikh Abdul Naeem, who is an accused in the May 2006 Aurangabad arms haul case. The petitioner claimed he is not being produced in court owing to the lack of police personnel to escort him.

The judges have asked the state government to approach the National Informatics Centre by August 31 for upgrade of the facilities. We will monitor the process at every stage, said Justice Desai.

Public prosecutor Pandurang Pol said a meeting was held between officials of the state government and the prisons department on July 17 and it was decided that steps will be taken to ensure that video conferencing facilities are started in all courts at the earliest. During the hearing on Monday, the state government, represented by Pol, submitted a plan of action to tackle the issue of under-utilisation of video conferencing in prisons and courts. The case was adjourned till September 9.